We met just across the street from the Peabody Essex Museum, where we had visited earlier in the day. We had a fairly large group, and I even met another couple also from Pittsburgh. They sell Pagan-related wares, so I told them all about Grove of Gaia Fest at Beltane. I enjoyed being with other like-minded individuals!
Gory Sites, Historical Places
We visited many reportedly haunted sites around Salem. The place where Giles Corey was crushed to death because he wouldn’t confess gave me the chills. We saw the building they used as a prison for the accused witches. We visited a bar located on land once belonging to the first woman accused of witchcraft. Many people see apparitions there. Our last stop was at the Old Burying Point Cemetery near the memorial site. The accused were forbidden burial on sacred ground, so the spirits haunting the cemetery are of other old souls. The house belonging to Nathaniel Hawthorne’s in-laws bordered the cemetery, a bit of literary connection!
Full Moon, Friday the 13th
On the night we took this tour, the moon was nearly full. This made it both beautiful and eerie. One of my photos supposedly captured an orb (a type of haunting). Fun to consider, but it could be (and more likely is) a reflection from the moon.
Possible orbs captured on camera during the Voodoo, Vampires and Ghosts Walking tour.
We definitely enjoyed our time on the walking tour with Mike and the other tourists. It was a great time to visit Salem, because the following day was going to be Friday the 13th AND a full moon! There were many tourists who came specifically for that heavenly alignment, but we just lucked into that particular anomaly!
In March/April 2019, I got to go sightseeing in the West Midlands, UK while visiting my British cousins. My American cousin, Cheryl, came with me and it was her first time meeting them. It is always so rewarding bringing family together! My hobby of genealogy has allowed me to meet and connect many cousins!
Eyam and Bakewell
After a relaxing evening with our cousins, the next day we accomplished quite a lot! First we drove to the plague village of Eyam in the Peak District in Derbyshire. During the Black Death in the mid-1600’s, this village was infected due to a piece of cloth brought up by a trader from London. To protect the surrounding countryside, this village quarantined itself. It was an incredible act of selflessness on the part of these people from the deadly contagion! Between September 1665 and November 1666, around 260 villagers lost their lives to the disease. In the end, just a little over 80 people from Eyam survived. It is a fascinating piece of history and located in a beautiful area of England!
An actual sundial on the outside wall of the church in Eyam, U.K. The Celtic Cross in Mercian style located outside of the church in Eyam , U.K.
While we were driving, a most remarkable thing happened! We were driving through the beautiful countryside, and a HUGE herd of all white deer crossed the road in front of us! There had to be about 40 of them! They were beautiful, but I was so stunned and in-the-moment that I didn’t even THINK to take a picture or video. I really wish I would have because it was STUNNING!
After Eyam, we drove to Bakewell, also in the Peak District. The town is along the River Wye and is famous for its tarts. Bakewell is quaint and lovely. The shops are so cool and there are so many pubs and restaurants! We enjoyed lunch there at The Wheatsheaf. The fish was ENORMOUS, and the Tomato, Basil and Goat Cheese Tart was delicious! A highlight of the visit were the swans–I’ve always loved swans, they are such majestic creatures but can be fiercely protective and territorial.
Swans on the River Wye in Bakewell, U.K.
Moseley Old Hall
The following day we visited Moseley Old Hall, where King Charles II was hidden for part of the English Civil War before he could be smuggled out of the country to France. The history fascinated me! We even got to see the “priest hole” where the king would have to hide if the house was subject to search by Cromwell’s men (it was illegal then to practice Catholicism, ergo why the house had a “priest hole”). In the yard we saw a beautiful peacock–unfortunately, he would not open his tail for us, but he is stunning to look at any way!
The peacock on the grounds of Moseley Old Hall.The front of Moseley Old Hall.My cousin Cheryl and I on the grounds of Moseley Old Hall.
The Crooked House
On the way back from Old Moseley Hall, we visited one of the most surprising buildings I’ve ever seen–The Crooked House. This pub, located between Telford and Dudley, became lopsided due to mining subsidence in the 19th century. One side of the building is now approximately 4 feet lower than the other! The structure was condemned in the 1940s and scheduled for demolition, but the owners of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries purchased it and capitalized on the uniqueness of the building. They made is safe using buttresses and girders but were able to maintain its lopsided appearance. The leaning walls also give rise to some pretty neat optical illusions where glasses slowly slide across “level” tables and a marble will appear to roll UP hill. This pub is not easy to find–it is at the end of a small side road, so you need to know it is there in order to find it!
The Crooked House from the outside.Myself, Cheryl, Linda and David inside The Crooked House.
Monkland Cheese Dairy and Ludlow
On our third full day in the West Midlands, we packed in a lot of activity! First we visited David’s 93-year-old mother–she is a delightful woman whose mind is sharp as a tack! After that, we drove westward and visited the Monkland Cheese Dairy. Being a cheese-lover, I was in heaven! On the tour, we learned how cheese is made the old-fashioned way! This was fascinating! Afterward, we enjoyed a bite to eat with Linda’s sister Margaret, her daughter Karen, and Karen’s son Warwick. A new generation of cousins!
Display at the Monkland Cheese Dairy.Lunch with cousins new and old outside of the Monkland Cheese Dairy.An old-fashioned cheese press.
From the cheese factory we drove further up into the hills to visit the charming town of Ludlow. I had been there last year, but it was Cheryl’s first time. Our visit was brief, so we didn’t go to the ruins of the castle this time, but you can review last year’s visit here. The castle and town played an integral role in defending medieval England from the “savage” Welshmen.
Walkway in Ludlow, UK.View of several buildings in Ludlow.
That evening we spent some time with David’s sister, Susan, and her husband, Neil. They were such an interesting and entertaining couple and their home was beautiful! It was an enjoyable evening filled with fun and engaging conversation!
I had the pleasure to take a trip to York, UK during my recent trip to visit family in England. I got to meet new cousins, who live in Yorkshire, on the way! Linda and David were gracious enough to accomodate my love of Viking and British history, and took me up there for a couple of days!
New Cousins!
On the way to York, we stopped in Yorkshire to visit Marian and her family. She had a lovely lunchtime spread for us and it was delightful getting to know everyone. I especially liked her grandson, Seth–he was a remarkable young man!
This is me (front left) with a few of my British cousins on our visit to Yorkshire, UK.The Yorkshire cousins including young Seth (Marian’s grandson). Linda was taking the picture.
Introduction to York
We drove from Marian’s to the city of York. The ancient city walls greeted us, along with bright flowerbeds planted along the route into the city. The sight is breathtaking! Imagine a structure that has been standing for over a thousand years! The US has only been a nation for a fraction of that time, so it is humbling.
A portion of the ancient wall that surrounds the city of York in the UK.The cheerful flowers that greeted us to York.
A Brief History of York
Humans have lived at the site of York since the Neolithic Period (4000-2000 BC). It first became a major center when occupied by the Romans in 71 BC. The Roman name for York was Eburacum. The Romans turned Eburacum into a center of world importance for the next three centuries! During the 7th century the first Minster was built in York for the baptism of King Edwin or Deira. Subsequently, York became a center of enlightenment, wealth and power,
York was one of the first places in Britain conquered by the Vikings, and they occupied the area for about a hundred years. Although many think of the Vikings as plundering, seafaring warriors, their culture at the time was very robust. It is largely due to the archealogical discoveries made in York that we know more about their lives in this time period. They called the city Jorvik, and there were many craftsmen, farmers, traders, engineers and ship builders. Many Vikings actually became Christians during this occupation. Today, you can see what it was like in the city by visiting Jorvik–The Viking Experience. A visit to this attraction is a must during any trip to York, and it was a highlight for me!
A view of daily life at Jorvik–The Viking Experience.
The Lovely Hazelwood
Linda and I had searched for accomodations, and we were delighted with The Hazelwood. We chose it because it was close to the attractions we wanted to visit, and because it had free parking. The establishment is comprised of 4 or 5 separate old stately townhomes that are adjoined. The rooms were quaint and comfortable, and the staff very friendly. We enjoyed breakfast both days!
My quaint room at the Hazelwood.
Lamb & Lion Inn for Dinner
We strolled around York our first night there. It was cold and wet and rainy, so we were anxious to find somewhere tOno eat, warm up, and dry off. Between the cathedral and the Hazelwood, we found a lovely little eatery called Lamb & Lion Inn. It consisted of multiple smaller rooms with 3 or 4 tables each, so it was rather intimate. The food was delicious and presented beautifully, and the drinks were strong enough to warm us from the inside out!
TheMy beautiful and delicious dinner at the Lamb & Lion Inn in York.
Yorkminster Cathedral
We spent the following day discovering the city in all of its historical glory! We started out by visiting Yorkminster Cathedral, a huge magnificent place that has been in existence since Norman times! I need to look up the statistics, but it seems even bigger than Notre Dame to me! The achitecture is awe-inspiring, as are the stained glass windows.
The outside of the Yorkminster Cathedral, an architectural wonder!
The first minster was built in York in the 7th century, as mentioned previously. The Norman invasion in 1066 brought many changes to the area, and was initially trouble for the area, but subseqently ended up being very prosperous for York. Later, during the Middle Ages, stonemasons and stained glass artisans worked together to build one of the greatest cathedrals in the world, Yorkminster!
Since the 7th Century, the Minster in York has been the centre of Christianity in the north of England. Every aspect of the cathedral, from the stained glass to the exquisite handcrafted stone, tells the story of Jesus Christ. It is a masterpiece!
This is where the bishop sits in Yorkminster Cathedral.One of the magnificent stained glass masterpieces at Yorkminster.
Other Views Around York
It was wonderful to walk around York and take in its beauty and history. We discovered small shops, old churches, and quaint bistros. I completely enjoyed ambling around the old narrow streets and finding new delights around every corner!
One of the delightful old streets in York.One of the quaint streets in York, with a lovely church tower in the background.
Yorkshire Museum
Toward the end of the day, we visited the Yorkshire Museum and its grounds, the site of an old monastery in York. It demonstrated the history of the area from the paleolithic era up until modern times. For a history buff like myself, it was fascinating!
A mosaic at the Yorkshire Museum.A lovely cottage on the grounds of the Yorkshire Museum.
The Exhibition–A Place I Would Hang Out!
After our visit to the museum, we walked back to The Hazelwood. It was rather cold and breezy that day, and we wanted to find someplace to warm our bones. We fortunately wandered into The Exhibition–a welcoming pub with a warm fireplace and wonderful service! The food and the drinks were rejuvinating, and we enjoyed our time there. It is definitely a place I could hang out on the regular!
The inviting fireplace at the Exhibition Pub in York.
My time in York was so incredibly enjoyable, and I am eternally grateful to my cousins, Linda and David, for indulging me in our little side trip! I definitely recommend York as a destination during any trip to England!
